Native flora and introduced plants of the ecologically important Pilliga Forests of Northwestern NSW

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Acrotriche rigida

Flowers and buds covering stem of Acrotriche rigida

Family:Epacridaceae/Ericaceae

Common name: Prickly Groundberry

Flowers and fruit: Clusters of tiny pale green and cream flowers grow directly from woody stems of the plant. The tubular flowers are only a few millimeters long with minute hairy lobes at the opening.Fruit is globose (roughly spherical), 2.5 to 3mm diameter, and pale green. My observations see that Acrotriche rigida flowers July and fruits September.

Leaves and stems: Leaves are stiff, spreading, lanceolate, up to a centimeter long and less than 2mm wide, strongly recurved, with a sharp apex. Stems are woody.

Habit and habitat:Acrotriche rigida is a robust, densely branched shrub up to 1.5 meters high and wide (although those I have seen have been no more than a meter high). They grow in dry forest and scrub.

The Pilliga Forest is the largest remaining continuous remnant of semi-arid woodland in NSW, consisting of about 500,000 hectares of public bushland. The environment changes from cypress pine to ironbark to scribbly gum to box, and back again, interspersed with expansive heaths and a network of sandy creeks. The Pilliga is recognised as one of the most important areas for biodiversity in eastern Australia and is home to more than 350 species of birds, mammals, reptiles and frogs. To many who travel through the area, the woodlands might look monotonous, but if you drive the back roads slowly or wander amongst the vegetation, you will discover that The Pilliga is full of life and richness and wonder. It is truly a special place, and of huge significance to the survival of countless native plants and animals.